Pail extinguisher



Aug. 23, 1927. 1,640,117

0. R. ERWIN PAIL EXTINGUI SHER Original Filed NOV. 16. 1920 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,640,117 PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO R. ERWIN, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FOAMITE-CHILDS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PAIL EXTINGUISHER.

Application filed November 16, 1920, Serial No. 424,409. Renewed September 11, 1924.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers of the kind which is set in action by the comingling of two solutions when the device is tipped from vertical, and more particularly to foam-making extinguishers of this type and its object is to provide such an extinguisher which will produce a superior quality of fire extinguishing foam as well as to provide other advantages which will be made apparent in the description which follows, of-the form of the invention now preferred.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section;

-Fig. 2 a horizontal section on line IIII of Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 represents the device in action.

In these drawings the extinguisher is shown as constituted of an outer receptacle 5 in the shape of an ordinary pail having a bail handle 23 of simple type pivotally secured to the body of the pail by means of the customary bail ears as indicated. When supported by the hail the device is adapted to turn or be tipped substantially on the axis of the bail ears as'indicated by Fig. 3. The outer'receptacle is thus broadly a receptacle adapted to be tipped on a pre-determined axis, to wit the axis of the bail ears, or on such other relatively fixed axis as may be desired, and the bail represents the support for such relatively fixed axis.

The outer receptacle 5 has a bottom 6 and a cover or top wall 7 secured to its body portion by a seam 8 and in this end wall is provided an opening 9 formed of a threaded boss 12 secured to the end wall by its flange l3 and provided with a screw cap cover 10. This cover is formed with a nozzle 11 and the end of the nozzle 11 is adapted to be closed by a removable nozzle cap 12', retained on the screw cap 10 by means of a chain 13. The opening 9, when the screw cap 10 is removed, serves as the filling orifice and when the screw ca is in place serves as the discharge outlet or the fire extinguishing foam, the nozzle cap 12 being then removed or displaced.

Inside the outer receptacle there is an inner receptacle 17 which may be held in place therein in any suitable way, but conveniently by means of a diaphragm or transverse partition 14, the flanged edge of which is permanently secured to the body wall of the outer receptacle 5.

The inner receptacle is intended to contain the acid reacting solution and the space 16 within the outer receptacle is intended to contain the basic solution, together with the foaming agent dissolved therein and each receptacle is provided with two openings to the mixing space 15, which space is formed as a defined mixing chamber between the transversepartition 14 and the end wall 7. The two openings from the outer or basic receptacle are marked 18 and 21 respectively, the opening 21 being constituted, in the present case, of four closely assembled holes. The openings 18 and 21 are respectively lo cated in spaced relation to each other and on opposite sides of the tipping axis above referred to. The two openings for the inner or acid receptacle are marked respectively 19 and 22 (22 being preferably a short piece of pipe extending both above and below the partition) and they also are spaced from each other and are on opposite sides of the tipping axis and respectively adjacent to the openings 18 and 21 of the outer receptacle. There is thus an opening into the mixing space 15 from each receptacle at each side of the tipping axis.

When the extinguisher is tipped to horizontal position, as indicated in Fig. 3, the openings 18 and 19 from the two receptacles will both be near the bottom and the solutions will therefore run out of these openings into mutual contact within the mixing space, there producing the foam under pres.

generated in the mixing space is transmitted to the interior of each receptacle above the liquid therein. This insures that the outflow from both receptacles will take place smoothly and in pre-determined relative proportions therefrom and strictly in accordance with the relative areas of said openings. It will be noted that the opening 19 is formed by an annular disc secured in the end of a short tube 20. The aperture through this disc is pre-determinedto the strength and volume of the acid reacting solution and the size of the opening 18 from the basic receptacle. If the pressure in the mixing space is not transmitted promptly to the two receptacles the flow from the outlets 18 and 19 is intermittent, with a gurgling effect and the proportions admitted to the mixing space are not constant, which impairs the quality of the foam and the action of the device. The foam may, for example, contain too much acid or too much of the basic solution, depending upon the rate of outflow at the moment, Whereas a neutral or slightly basic foam is desired at all times and for best results.

The outer receptacle is provided with a hand grip 24 near its bottom to insure that the calibrated outlets 18 and 19 will be at the bottom of the device whentipped from horizontal and the pressure-equalizing openings 21 and 22 at the top, but it will be apparent that if the device should be tipped in the opposite direction the pressure-equalizing effect would still obtain. In this case outflow would be through the holes 21 and 22 and the pressure equalization through the holes 18 and 19. It is preferred to provide the freest possible pressure communication between the mixing space and the two receptacles, because the pressure is represented by foam under pressure and on this account the openings 21 and 22 are shown considerably larger than the openings on the opposite side. but it is obvious that the pressure will be freely transmitted through either set of openings and that the device will function with a uniform non-gurgling delivery of both solutions into the mixing space, regardless of the direction in which it is tipped for operation, and this invention therefore comprehends the provision of suitable openings from the two receptacles on opposite sides of the tipping axis to the end that proper pressure equalization can be obtained in either direction'of tipping. llt will be understood also that if the side of the receptacle opposite to or adjacent the nozzle opening be rested on a stationary object, the device may be tilted on an axis exterior to itself, being steadied meanwhile by the bail and the other hand of the operator.

11 claim- 1. The combination in a fire extinguisher of the kind described adapted to be tipped in either direction on a pre-determined axis and comprising two receptacles for solu= tions, of outlets from both receptacles arranged on the side of the device which is lowest when tipped, and means for transmitting the pressure resulting from the comingling solutions to the said receptacles on the upper side of the device, the openings being.v so arranged that the device has the same action when tipped in either direction.

mean? 2. The combination in a fire extinguisher of the kind described adapted to be tipped on a predetermined axis and comprising two receptacles, of openings to both receptacles arranged in sets, whose respective members are grouped, located respectively on the side of the device which is lowest when tipped and on that which is highest when tipped, the extinguisher having its nozzle outlet located adjacent one set of said openings.

3. The combination in a fire extinguisher of the kind described adapted to be tipped on a pre-determined axis passing through the body of the extinguisher and comprising two receptacles for solu ons, of outlets from both receptacles on one side of said axis and inlets for transmitting pressure resulting from the co-mingling solutions to the said' receptacles on the other side of said axis.

4:. A fire extinguishing pailv having a bail determining the axis on which the pail is to be tipped and a hand grip near the bottom of the pail, two solution receptacles and a mixing space in said pail, outlets from said receptacles tosaid mixing space, andpressure equalizing inlets from the mixing space to said receptacles.

5. A fire extinguishing pail having a bail and hail ears determining the axis on which the pail is to be tipped and a hand grip near the bottom of the pail, two solution receptacles and a mixing space in said pail, outlets from said receptacles to said mixing space on one side of said axis and pressure equalizing inlets from the mixing chamber to said receptacles on the other'side of said axis.

6. A fire pail subdivided into a plurality top of the pail and communicating with the solution outlets and the pressure inlets of the solution receptacles, the mixing space being provided with an opening for charging and discharging purposes.

7. A fire pail comprising a closed container having a discharge opening, a partition fitted interiorly of said contalneriseparating the container into a top portion and a body portion, means dividing the body portion into solution receptacles, the top portion of the container defining a mixing space, said partition being provided near one end of a diameter with solution outlets and near the opposite end with equalizing pressure inlets, the inlets and outlets providing intercommunicating means between the mixing space and the solution receptacles.

8. A fire pail comprising a closed container, means subdividing the interior of the, container into solution receptacles having solution outlets and equalizing pressure insaid mixing space.

9. A fire pail comprising a closed container having a discharge opening, a partition fitted interiorly of said container separatin the container into a to portion and a body portion, means divi g,the body portion into solution receptacles, the top portion of the container defining a mixing space, said partition being provided near one end of a diameter with solution outlets and near the opposite end with equalizing pressure inlets, the inlets and outlets providing intercommunicating means between the mixing space and the solution receptacles, said discharge opening being formed adjacent the pressure inlets.

10. A fire pail comprising a closed container having a spout positionedin the top thereof, a disc fitted interiorly in said container, said disc being provided with diametrically opposed apertures and diametrically opposed tubes projecting upwardly therefrom and a receptacle fitted to the under side of said disc providing a closed chamber and communicating with said tubes.

11. A fire extinguishing pail having a bail handle determining the axis on which the pail is to be tipped and two covered solution receptacles each having an outlet through its cover located low down, i. e.

"near the lowest part of the cover, when, on

the pail being tipped, its long axis is substantially horizontal, thereby bringing practically all of each solution into contact with the other.

12. A fire extinguishing pail having a defined mixing chamber, and two solution receptacles partitioned ofi therefrom each havmg an outlet to the mixing chamber which is low down, i. e. near the lowest part of the side wall of its solution receptacle when, on the pail being tipped on the side toward said outlets, its long axis is substantially horizontal, and each receptacle having also an outlet which is lowdown when the pail is tipped to the like extent in the opposite direction, thereby permittin each receptacle to empty into the mixing 0 amber so as to bring practically all 015 each solution into contact with the other in either direction of tipping.

13. A fire extinguishing pail, the side walls of which flare upward and outward and which has a bail handle determining the axis on which the pail is to be tipped, a defined mixing chamber and two solution receptacles each having an outlet thereto which is low down, i. e. near the lowest part of the side wall of its solution receptacle when, on the pail being tipped, its long axis is substantially horizontal, thereby permitting each receptacle to empty into the mixing chamber so as to bring practically all of each solution into contact with the other.

' 14. A fire pail comprising a closed container having upwardly and outwardly flara predetermined axis and having a spout positioned in its top adjacent the top or the ail, receptacles for mutually reactive solutions and a mixing chamber therefor. at the top of thepail partitioned off from the solution receptacles, said receptacles having outlets therefrom to the mixing chamber, and a hand grip at the bottom of the pail on the same side as the spout.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 10th day of November, A. D. 1920.

ORLANDO R. ERWI N.

' ing sides and adapted to be tipped about 

